All through Year 12, I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do the next year. I’d flipped through that thick careers book a thousand times but just couldn’t pin a direction down. It wasn’t until I physically went to uni open day, that I could picture what life might actually look like after school.
That first taste of the future might feel overwhelming — especially given everything has been virtual for a while. But, trust me, it’s a good thing. Chatting to all the students, alumni and staff, and seeing everything up close IRL will make it all less scary.
Swinburne is one of the first universities to bring back face-to-face open day action this year, and will have Human Intelligence Hubs (think: Genius Bars but less intimidating) dotted all over campus to help you with anything.
Also, if it helps, you usually meet a lot of similar folks on the day. Of course, uni is full of a beautifully diverse mix of people, but below are some of the key players we guarantee you’ll meet.
The “down-with-the-kids” tutor
How is someone so young and hip on staff? This lecturer (can also be referred to as “Teach”) is down with the kids — and don’t they know it. They give it to you straight and it’s refreshing to finally have a teacher talk to you like a grown-up. They tell you all about how the uni can hook you up with industry experience and are usually the person who cements your application. My money is on them rocking docs and being part of the Arts or Media faculty.
The tech genius
OK, we’ve all seen The Social Network so obviously we know every uni has a few tech prodigy students. They’re witty and smart and will probs be showing off the coolest stuff on the day. If you want to see a robot do something whack, stay close.
The design alum
Probably rocking black from head to toe, the artsy person running the design stand is now a legit artist, so is really selling it as a degree. You pick up every last one of their pamphlets because you’re putty in their cool, ring-filled hands.
The eager-beaver
Clipboard at the ready, this eager-beaver is probably spruiking a campus political party or niche social club — if you’ve ever wanted to join a Crime and Forensics Society or Cheese club, this is the time to do it. Their excitement makes you excited too, so you mentally note that you should try to sound less monotone from here on out. They inspire you to bring that kind of enthusiasm into classes next year.
The “Are you pulling my leg?” alum
I recall my tiny pea brain being blown about every 42 secs at open day. The stuff that would come out of the mouths of students, staff and alumni would shock me so much that I’d grin and ask them to seriously be real with me. But it all was real! Those lofty aspirations you have secretly lurking inside won’t seem so wild once you meet someone who has done it.
The future BFF
You have a little gasbag with another potential student at a booth and feel like you’ve already found a friend for next year. How sweet. You promise to see each other next year so hurry up and apply already.
The “Do they work here?” mature age student
Ah, these enigmas carry themselves with more confidence than the hunched shuffle every other prospective student does. Surely they’re a mature-age student if they’re on this side of the booth though, right? After meeting “Teach” you can never be too sure, now. In actual fact, they’re probs just an older student who has a confident stride because they nailed it in the real world (AKA has proper industry experience).
Now that you’re ready to hit one up, Swinburne is holding its open day on July 31st at the Hawthorn Campus. Between professional astronomer and researcher, Alan Duffy, and digital artist and alum Dom Gauci, there will be plenty of people on deck to chat to about your dream career. (We’ll let you meet them and see where they fall in the above categories.) Plus, there are always open-air tech demos featuring legit robots if you’d rather watch not chat.
You can peruse all your options on the day now and start pencilling in the sessions and people you don’t want to miss with Swinburne’s Planner.
Go have a geeze. That blurry future will look a bit clearer afterwards!
